A 19-year-old speed skater from Waukesha is making waves at the US Olympic Trials, just three years after first putting on speed skates. Finn Siebert's bedroom overflows with sports awards and medals, but almost none are for speed skating — the sport he's now competing in at the highest level.

Waukesha

Finn Siebert, a 19-year-old from Waukesha, Wisconsin, was adopted from a Latvian orphanage at age 11 and has quickly made a name for himself in speed skating. Despite only taking up the sport three years ago, Siebert recently set personal records in the 500, 1,000, and 1,500-meter races at the U.S. Speed Skating Trials, with his best finish being 13th place.

Siebert, who previously excelled in other sports, is now focused on qualifying for the junior national team and has set his sights on the 2030 Olympics. He credits his journey and opportunities to his move to the United States and the support of his adoptive family.

From Latvia to Olympic trials: Waukesha teen's speed skating journey

I always say Finn is the bravest and most resilient kid I've ever met. He came from a pretty hard background and came to a family he had never met before and changed his whole life, but God had great plans for him and still does. From an orphanage in Latvia to Waukesha and now the U.S. Olympic Trials, 19-year-old Finn Siebert is making a name for himself in the world of speed skating. I'm Rebecca Kloff, your Waukesha County reporter here in Milwaukee. I spoke to Finn and his parents, Nate and Natasha, about his amazing journey. Some of them are soccer, actually, and skiing. Finn Siebert's bedroom is filled with sports awards. Most of them are running. But almost none of these trophies, medals, and plaques are for the sport he's trying to go to the Olympics in, speed skating. That's because until three years ago, he had never done it. While his parents signed him up for a learn to speed skate class at the Pettit Center. It was kind of funny because he's in there with all these other kids, but he was definitely the, you were the biggest in that group. So he was 15 and there's like seven-year-olds in there. Finn did not have the chance at seven years old to speed skate or do any sport. He was living in an orphanage in Latvia. He was adopted by his family at 11 years old and moved to a place he didn't know. Do they tell you, like, you're going to walk a shot of Wisconsin? I don't think they told me the state or the city, they just gave me a picture of the family. I always say Finn is the bravest and most resilient kid I've ever met. He came from a pretty hard background and came to a family he had never met before and changed his whole life, but God had great plans for him and still does. Over the weekend at the U.S. Speed Skating Trials, Finn set three personal records in the 500, 1,000, and 1,500-meter races. His best finish so far has been in 13th place, and while he's not expecting to make the Olympics this year, he says it's really just the start. Part of that I feel like is like God's plan, like I was out in a different country and he moved me here to the United States right next to a Pettit Center where I could begin my training. After the trials wrap up in the next two weeks, Finn is going to be competing for a spot on the junior national team. Then his next four years is going to be focused on 2030 and making the Olympics then. In Milwaukee, Rebecca Clough, TMJ4 News. Great story. Thanks, Rebecca. And we did learn about this story because Finn's neighbor reached out to us. If you have a story idea, let's talk. You can scan that QR code right there on your screen or send us a message through any of the options that you see.

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